Posted March 14, 2007

Nikola "Nik" Barjaktarevic has been named the first coach for the new women’s soccer program at The University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College.

Scorpion men’s and women’s soccer will begin in August 2007. Barjaktarevic's hire completes the staff for the Office of Intercollegiate Athletics.

"All of our new coaches have come to us with a strong background in the NAIA," said Dan Huntley, UTB/TSC Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "That played an important role in all of our hirings."

"Nik has shown over the past six years that he can recruit players and teach them about competing in the NAIA, as well as competing in the classroom. He is young, energetic and has seen the level that it will take for our women's team to be competitive at the conference and national level. I know Nik will be successful recruiting locally, regionally and internationally to our university. He understands our commitment to athletics and the opportunities presented to him. Nik is a great fit with our department and with the rest of our coaching staff."

Barjaktarevic is excited about starting the Scorpion soccer program.

"Starting the men’s and women’s soccer programs here is definitely the right choice for me and I am very excited to be a part of history in the making," Barjaktarevic said. "Everyone I have talked to from the campus and the community is thrilled as well to see soccer flourish and give the players from the area the opportunity to continue their education while competing at the highest level."

Barjaktarevic is anxious to begin the recruiting process.

"I am eager to have our first recruit signed within the next couple of weeks," Barjaktarevic said. "There is a lot of talent in Brownsville, the Valley and Texas, and this will be our base. From there we will go both nationally and internationally to get the best student-athletes to represent UTB/TSC."

The first UTB/TSC women’s soccer game is scheduled for Thursday, August 23, 2007, against Instituto Tecnologico Superiores de Poza Rica Petroleros. Two days later, the Scorpions host Angelo State University.